Chalo India - the India Podcast for Travellers, Expats and India Lovers

3 wonderful months at Greens Ayurveda have come to an end. At the Ayurveda Center in the North of Kerala I have completed the course to an Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant and also did some Ayurveda Treatments including a Pancha Karma Cleanse. In this episode, I am interviewing Doctor Asghar. Doctor Asghar is the founder of Greens Ayurveda and the Chief Doctor. You will learn a bit more about Greens Ayurveda,  about the difference between Indian and Western patients, how Ayurveda and Yoga is a great combination for holistic health, how to become an Ayurveda Doctor and about some Immune boosting Ayurveda advice. If you are new to Ayurveda I advise you to listen to the previous Podcast Episode in which I give a small introduction to Ayurveda and also talk a little bit more about my stay at Greens Ayurveda. If you are interested in an Ayurveda Retreat or Course yourself, check out my programs. Enjoy the Podcast Episode!

This episode I recorded in Kerala. More precisely in an Ayurveda Clinic in the North of Kerala. Here, in Greens Ayurveda, I am taking a 3-month course to become a certified Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant and also take treatments myself. In this podcast, I try to explain what Ayurveda exactly is and also give you a small insight into my course and stay here. If you are interested in an Ayurveda Retreat or Course, please visit my Website, where I have a wide offer. Here some Retreats and Courses I offer at the Greens Ayurveda Center. Moreover, I offer more Retreats in the Himalayas and Resorts in Kerala. Please get in touch for more information. Healing Ayurveda and Yoga Retreat Ayurveda Retreat Building Block Ayurveda Yoga Teacher Training in Kerala

Wow, what a big and wide topic me and Ketan talked about. Ketan works as a (french-speaking) tour guide in India and is a good friend of mine. He himself belongs to the Hindu Religion but would describe himself more as a spiritual human being. In this podcast, we tried to give you an overview of the major and minor religions practiced in the secular state of India. We covered Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism (all India born religions), as well as Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Judaism and how they are practiced in India. I hope our conversation is not too confusing for you. Please feel free to contact me anytime, in case you have more questions or if you need a french speaking and wonderful India Guide :)

India is the birthplace of Yoga, but how is Yoga practised and lived in India? Noor, a Yoga teacher from Delhi and myself (also Yoga teacher ;) get a little deeper into this topic. Check out our Yoga School and Yoga Travel Agency Yoga Maya India

A couple of days I announced Rekha's first cookbook, which she and I wrote together. Rekha runs her Incredible Krishna Cooking Workshop in Jodhpur and is not only an extremely good cook but also a remarkable woman. In this podcast episode, we speak about her relation to cooking and food and about her cooking school. If you are interested in buying the PDf of her cookbook (110 recipes!!!) please get in touch with me: info@chalo-reisen.de The price of the book is 11 Euro -10 Euros go directly to Rekha. You can also book Online cooking classes with Rekha for 1000 rs per person. Please contact Rekha directly via whatsapp: +91 70143 21374

In this Podcast Episode, I talk with Sanjay, founder and manager of the Delhi based NGO Chetna.  CHETNA takes care of od Street children in Delhi and the surrounding states. Since the Corona Epidemic started, these children face more and bigger problems than ever before. Sanjay and I talk about the work of Chetna, Street children and get more into the problematic of the Covid 19 Situation and what it does to the poorest of the poor. Click here to directly donate to Chetna. A receipt will be provided. Just a reminder: 8 Euros feed a family for 2 weeks, 10 Euros provide warm clothes for a child, with 4 Euros we can improve the monthly hygiene for women, with 5 Euros we can gift a whole family school material and games.  Visit Chetna's Youtube Channel to watch some interesting videos related to the topic.  Here some interesting articles: https://www.dw.com/en/how-coronavirus-is-affecting-underprivileged-children-in-india/a-54125032 https://theprint.in/india/education/crowded-rooms-shared-phones-but-a-will-to-learn-how-delhis-street-kids-study-in-a-pandemic/505851/ https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/covid-19-impact-menstrual-hygiene-worsens-for-girls-in-capital-s-slums/story-z8G0IlSx9CMbknK9fb4sKO.html and one on our blog. Thank you for your support!

Now it is more than 7 months, that we live under the big shadow of the Corona Virus. Since March 18, 2020, all India Visa became invalid and international flights stopped operating. In April and May, we had 5 weeks of strict lockdown. Now live in India almost seem normal, besides that everyone walks around with a mask, schools remain closed and there are around 70000 daily new cases. So maybe not that normal after all. In this podcast, I will share a few insights about what is going on in India, how India managed during the last 8 months, how people deal with it. I also talk a little about myself and my business.  Obviously, with no one allowed in India from outside, international tourism is zero in India. That is especially harmful to all the Indian people working in and are dependent on the tourism industry! Also the poor people still suffer a lot. Here the link to the NGO Chetna. You can donate to them through the donation button. The money goes directly into food rations for the poor and into online education for the children. If you are interested to support my friend Prakash from Varanasi by buying some high-quality textiles, please contact him through his Whatsapp number: +91 96482 93807 or through his Facebook account, where you can see samples of the products he sells.  And here the link to my Yoga Maya India School.

By my guests, I get asked a lot about advice for shopping in India. Many of them are a little scared and feel uncomfortable with it. Honestly, I could also do well without bargaining, but in India you just have to do it. Maybe with these small advices, I give in this episode it can even be fun. Enjoy Listening!

One of the most common questions I get asked: Is it safe for (solo) female travelers to travel through India and are there any specific measurements to take, to make it not only safer but also fun and enjoyable at the same time? Unfortunately, India has bad reputations considering the role of women and sexual abuse. Much of it is true to some extent, but with differentiation. In this podcast, you will learn more about this difficult topic from my own perspective with lots of advice and travel tips for females. Find some more insight into that topic through these blog articles on my website: https://www.chalo-travels.com/experiences-and-insights/11198/how-safe-am-i-as-a-woman-in-india/ https://www.chalo-travels.com/travel/15828/safe-travel-as-a-woman-in-india/ https://www.chalo-travels.com/travel/11214/womens-safety-in-india/ and an article about why and how I created a "Women Only" 3 weeks India Trip: https://www.chalo-travels.com/tours-and-travel/14028/an-india-group-trip-for-women-why/

In this episode will explain all types of transportation options you have in India, including traveling by bus, train, plane and private car with driver. On my India Blog you can find some additional information in written form here.

Traveling to India for the first time can be a little bit overwhelming, especially because you will probably fly into the big Cities Delhi or Mumbai. To make your first hours and days in India as comfortable, easy and safe as possible, I created the podcast about your Arrival in India with many tips and advice for you. Also read the Article Arrival at Indira Gandhi Airport and a small report by two travelers about there first hours in Delhi. Enjoy listening and feel free to ask any questions Sarah

Planning to come to India, but not too sure what to take along? Let me help you. In this podcast I let you know what you should take along and what not.

Hi, it is me Sarah. Before I talk about India, I first talk a bit about myself. Here the promised link to my friend's podcast with me. More about myself and India you can read on my India Blog.